Vocational school is (not) OK? Vocational school in middle school students’ opinions vs. educational-vocational choices with regard to the situation on the labour market Cover Image

Zawodówka (nie) jest OK? Szkoły zawodowe (branżowe) w opiniach uczniów a wybory edukacyjno-zawodowe w odniesieniu do sytuacji na rynku pracy
Vocational school is (not) OK? Vocational school in middle school students’ opinions vs. educational-vocational choices with regard to the situation on the labour market

Author(s): Joanna Kozielska
Subject(s): Sociology
Published by: Uniwersytet Adama Mickiewicza
Keywords: planning for the future of vocational education; vocational counseling; labor market; youth; vocational education

Summary/Abstract: The proposed text is an illustration of selected conclusionsfrom a four-module research project conducted inone of the Wielkopolska counties. The aim of the empiricalverification was to: make the educational and professionalcharacteristics of the junior high school plans, getacquainted with the opinions of the employers on the situationin the local labor market, get acquainted with theplans connected with the employment of employees, getacquainted with the preparation of graduates of particulartypes of schools to meet the opinion of the directorsof post-gymnasium schools on the state of the vocationaleducation and to get acquainted with the opinions of thestudents of the upper secondary school classes on the situationon the labor market, the offer of vocational educationand the self-assessment of preparation to enter the labormarket. The research was conducted in the first quarterof 2016 and 2017, by the diagnostic survey method. Thearticle is based on one of the study modules – a study ofmiddle school students that was conducted in 2016 – thefindings from the 2017 study will be cited in some placesfor comparative purposes only. Due to the specificity ofthe research topic, the selection of the research samplewas random. High school students (N = 486 in 2016and N = 490 in 2017), upper secondary school students(N = 503 – 2016 and N = 498 – 2017), upper secondaryschool graduates (N = 6 in 2016 and 2017 ) and thelargest employers (N = 78 in 2016, N = 102 in 2017). Inthis project the diagnostic survey method was used as thebasis. The method used to analyze the contents was madeusing the local traditional (printed) and internet press andthe thematic work edited by the County Labor Office inGniezno and other institutions.The main topic of this paper was the educational and vocationalelections of junior high school students in the contextof the situation on the local labor market (which, asit turns out, does not correspond to its needs), revealingweaknesses in vocational counseling. Regarding the specificnature of the region, attention has also been paid tothe face (as opposed to the offer) of vocational education(depicted in the vocational school 2017/2018) depreciatedin the eyes of the local community, which in the reality ofthe local labor market seems to be a rational educationalchoice without causing closure Road to higher education.The dissertation on vocational education has been madean additional element of publication.

  • Issue Year: 2018
  • Issue No: 1
  • Page Range: 201-211
  • Page Count: 11
  • Language: Polish